Half-creatures

[Northman]

As Kognus mentioned in the half-ogre thread, a bunch of half-creatures are outlined in the new Dragon magaizine. Personally I got more than a tingle of excitment reading through them. I've always liked the half-monster idea. It has the best of both worlds both in game stats and roleplaying opportunities. While it might be fun to play a minotaur, you're going to have MAJOR problems in most towns, cities, and villages. Now, a half-minotaur... why wouldn't it be nearly as accepted as a half-orc? I digress...

I'm going to lay out the half-ogre without the flavor text. We don't need that. I'll lay out others later. Some are just too good...

Half-ogre
Creating a Half-Ogre
"Half-ogre" is an inherited template that can be added to any creature of the giant, humanoid, or monstrous humanoid type (referred to herafter as the "base creature") from Small to Huge in size.

A half-ogre uses all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Size and Type: The base creature's type does not change. If the creature is Small or Medium size, it gains a size category, becoming Medium or Large respectively. See Table 4-2: Changes to Statistics by Size in the Monster Manual for changes to the base creature when it gains a size category. The changes in the template are in addition to the changes outlined there.

Speed: If the base creature's size increased due to the application of the template, its speeds increase by 10 feet.

Armor Class: The base creatures natural armor bonus improved by +2.

Special Qualities: A half-ogre has al lthe special qualities of the base creature, plus the following special quality.

Darkvision (Ex): A half-ogre has darkvision to a range of 60 feet.
Giant Blood (Ex): For all special abilities and effects, a half-ogre is considered a giant in addition to the base creature's type and subtype. Half-ogres can use the magic itesm with ractially specific powers as giants.

Abilities: Change from the base creature as follows: Str +4, Int -2, Cha -2

Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature if it did not gain a size catagory, otherwise same as the base creature +1.

Alignment: Usually evil (any)

Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature if it did not gain a size catagory, otherwise same as the base creature +1.

 

[Northman]

Here's my initial impression of the half-race.

First, it's very cool, and can be added to any exsiting race, which creates interesting posibilities, especially for DMs.

Second, it's crazy overpowered. If I'm reading this correctly, then they get +4 to strength, plus the +8 from going from medium to large. That's not just overpowered, that doesn't make any sense. The flavor text talks about them being weaker than true ogres. This would make them stronger. (+12 compared to +11)

Something's not right.

If it's +4 then, that sounds decent for a +1 ECL template, but it's weak for a large creature. Even a large human (say if someone cast a spell on him to become large) would be stronger.

If it's +8 then that's more in line with the other rules, but it is way too much for an ECL +1 template, when you add in the other factors.

So, basically, I haven't figured this one out yet. What do you guys think was the WotC's intention?

 

[Emiricol]

is it Open Content? I let my subscription expire, so...If not, it can be a permanent resident on the Round Table Rules forum still.

 

[DMEntropy]

WoTC's prime intention is to make money. They do this by steadily publishing a stream of material in printed form.

I cannot believe that any of this stuff that comes out outside of the core books is playtested. Some of it appears not even to have been proof read. Your comment about the inconsistency of the STR adjustment shows that.

This is why I am hesitant to include anything from Dragon or the supplemental class books without carefully reviewing it first. Many campaigns become hopelessly imbalanced by the inclusion of this stuff immediately.

Let's keep our Half-Ogre as it is and move on. I don't think we need any more PC races. If you wanted to apply this template to an NPC, go ahead. I am much less concerned about balance with NPC's since *I* control them as the DM. If things appear out of hand I adjust without any fuss at all.

 

[Northman]

Except for the glaring mistake, I like this half-ogre. Mainly because it's based on the 3.5 ogre, which is slightly different than the 3.0 ogre.

What if I do, what was suggested by Em in the begining and rewrite the half-ogre (since I created it in the first place)? I'll make it more 3.5 happy and balanced, since we mostly agree that it's overpowered for ECL +1. After playtesting for a year +, I think that much is obvious. The changes will the subtle and just in time for the newest setting guide update.

 

[DMEntropy]

A rewrite? I had better let my new player know about this. He has made a Half-Ogre Fighter...

 

[Emiricol]

Northman, I like the idea of just revising the half-ogre! I'm also okay with not adding half a dozen player races. I still dont' have a problem with them being posted in Round Table Rules for DM use (clearly labeled).

If it is decided to use them all, though, I'd like to post each in a new thread for ongoing discussion. (But still prefer the RTR-for-DMs idea better, personally)

My 2 bits ^_^

 

[Northman]

Entropy, yeah we've been talking about revising the half-ogre for months. We had almost come to a conclusion about making him ECL +2, as part of it. But this shined some new light on the subject. And with 3.5 now firmly entrenched, I think we have a better idea of what would work.

Em, I also like the idea of new races in the RTR forum for DMs to use or not use at their pleasure. Let's not stick any new races out as "official." Plus, they are probably rare enough not to warrant being in the Setting Guide.

 

[Renfield]

Hey looks good save for the wonderful small or medium to medium or large adjustment. And so long as no one yammers that annoying argument WoTC seems to believe that STR is the most powerful stat... Hmmm... is 3.5 our official thing now or is it still DM dependant?

 

[Emiricol]

The next version of the guide will be 3.5, but I don't believe we'd stop a DM from running a campaign here as 3.0 It'd just have to be posted in the questing for adventure thread so people would know.